Dodgers vs Braves

Dodgers vs Braves :: The Braves called the move precautionary but elected to sit him for the remainder of the series in Washington and both games in Miami. The Dodgers are in the final stop of a three city,

The Dodgers won the first two games of this best-of-five series, and the Braves have yet to score a run in the NLDS. It’s a battle of young arms in this one, as Walker Buehler (2.62 ERA and 4.08 K/BB ratio in 137 1/3 innings) goes for the Dodgers opposite Atlanta’s Sean Newcomb (3.90 ERA, 1.98 K/BB ratio in 164 innings).

History is certainly working against the Braves. Of the 78 teams to be down 0-2 in a best-of-five MLB postseason series, just 10 (12.8 percent) came back to win that series.

Kevin Gausman was expected to take the mound on Sunday for the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS. Now, the Dodgers will face left-hander Sean Newcomb, who gets the start after pitching two innings of relief in Game 1.

Newcomb has faced the Dodgers twice this year, but more notably on July 29, when he was one strike away from no-hitting LA.

He found out today he would be getting the start, but knew it would be a possibility last night. “[Brian Snitker] came up and talked to me on the plane before we took off, let me know that that was a possibility,” Newcomb said. “So kind of get my mind right before I kind of went to bed.”

“We need to win,” he said. “And not that Gausman doesn’t give us that opportunity. We like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he’s had against the Dodgers this year.”

“So we’re going to let Newcomb get the thing off the ground. He felt good about it. And I told him that we need you to get this thing off the ground. You don’t need to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning with a strike left or whatever. We just want to get this thing flying and be all hands on deck.”

In Newcomb’s other start versus the Dodgers, he lasted 5 1⁄3 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, as well as allowing two homers.

It’s been a rough two months for the 25-year-old. Since August 7, Newcomb owns a 5.68 ERA, while batters are hitting .276.

“Obviously their backs are against the wall, and they feel it’s the best chance to give them a chance to win tomorrow,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “So he’s had success against us. I feel that just some history and a little bit more familiarity, you know, I don’t know what to expect of his length tomorrow.”

“Obviously it’s contingent upon how he performs. But I like the guys we’re going to run out there.”

Roberts added that the decision hasn’t been made on just how right-handed the Dodgers lineup will be. During the season, Los Angeles went platoon heavy, but that might not be the case Sunday.

“There might be a little bit of a tweak or two because — just appreciating the fact that he pitched a couple days ago, don’t know how long it’s going to go,” said Roberts. “They’ve got Teheran and Gausman in the pen. You just kind of never want to expose yourself to a complete line change.”

Atlanta left-hander Sean Newcomb will start Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with his team on the brink of elimination, the Braves announced Saturday.

Newcomb came within one strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home on July 29.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker had said Friday he would turn to Kevin Gausman in Game 3, but the Braves, who failed to score a run in losing the opening two games in L.A., instead will go with the 25-year-old Newcomb on Sunday in an attempt to extend their season.

Snitker said he discussed the change with general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the flight home after Atlanta’s 3-0 loss Friday. They agreed on the move Saturday afternoon.

“We need to win,” Snitker said Saturday. “Not that Gausman doesn’t give us that opportunity, we like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he’s had against the Dodgers this year.”